FALL RIVER – Fall River and New Bedford teamed up with Boston, Gloucester, Salem and state officials to form the Ports of Massachusetts Compact, The Herald News reported Monday.

The Ports of Massachusetts Compact effort is aimed at “boosting economic development and capitalizing on resources in the state’s seaports,” according to the news source.

The compact seeks to coordinate efforts to strengthen the maritime industry across the Bay State.

Led by the Mass. Department of Transportation, the compact group will initially “tackle issues such as fishing regulations, review coastal shipping trends and recommend a plan for seaport coordination,” according to the Herald.

“We’re hoping to bring the five ports to work together and think as one port so we can leverage assets and leverage what we can do together to create jobs and economic development,” MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey told the Herald News.

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